The Association of Cameroon Female and Male Musicians of Integrity, ACAFEHMI has gained grounds in the North West region with the installation of regional coordination bureau members.
Last week’s installation of ACAFEHMI’s North West branch executives in Bamenda was equally marked by the official launching of two volumes of the association’s album, after similar thrilling concerts took place in Yaounde and Bafoussam late last year.
The Bamenda outing which had the full royal blessings and support of Fon Angwafor III of Mankon, also saw the fon bestowing the honorary title of Prince of Mankon on ACAFEHMI’s honorary president, Ndedi Eyango ( who now goes by the stage name King Ndedi Eyango, Le Roi Mouan Nkum).
Addressing attendees at the concert presided at by the NW governor’s representative, Inspector Njoya, the president of ACAFEHMI, Adeline Mbenkum called on all stakeholders to join the association to give Cameroon music a new impetus in order to give budding stars the opportunity to emerge with Cameroon by 2035 as advocated by the head of state, Paul Biya.
According to the renowned Tribute Sister, the industrial production of musical works in the country following international norms is virtually disappearing. The visibly worried and concerned Mbenkum lamented over the fact that must Cameroonian musicians do not have access to platforms for exchange of knowledge and good practices.
“…misappropriation of artists’ royalties in authors’ rights management, buying of consciences, gender inequality, deviance, clannish tendencies, slander, misery, division, public insults, etc,” were the majors reasons Mbenkum advanced for the declining fortune of Cameroon’s music industry.
It is against this backdrop that the ACAFEHMI national president announced that the association is bent on contributing to the development of musical/professional career of its members in a women/men symbiosis as well as fight against poverty amongst artists. “We shall unite artists who have been divided by authors’ right quarrel, strive to promote excellence in work, facilitate visibility and exchange forums,” Adeline Mbenkum vowed without mincing words.
For his part, the newly installed North West regional president of ACAFEHMI, Fuh Wung Philippe a.k.a King Phil declared that they were going to be holding regular meetings so as to keep the vision aglow and to further spread the association’s tentacles to the nocks and crannies of the region.
Reacting to questions from reporters in relation to his accumulation of the post of president of two music associations, King Phil said there wasn’t any call for concern.
To the South regional president of ACAFEHMI, JPel Bood, Le Bantou, the Bamenda concert was awesome and ground breaking. He appreciated the hospitality of the people before vouching that “ACAFEHMI will go places.”
In the mean time, the following artists were installed as regional executives: King Phil (president), Princess Petita Ngwa (vice president), Rex Capwell (secretary general), Wara Festus (assistant secretary general), JM of Africa (organizing secretary, Anty Vera (financial secretary), Loh Wantoh (treasurer), Anty Komi (social secretary) and the college of advisers made up of Ambicat, Loh benson, John Minang and Chop Samuel.
ACAFEHMI officials said the installation ceremony of other regional bureaus will continue in the weeks ahead.
It is worth noting that ACAFEHMI intends to take their ‘Sing for the Nation’ concerts to the Bakassi peninsula and the northern regions, while a Njang music festival dubbed ‘Festi-Njang’ is billed for Bamenda in December, 2015.
